Meat ban on August 15 ‘not right’, says Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Pawar said such restrictions are usually accepted when imposed during religious festivals like Ashadhi Ekadashi, Mahashivratri or Mahavir Jayanti, but “if you clamp such orders on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day and Republic Day, then it is difficult.”

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday criticised municipal orders to shut slaughterhouses and meat shops on Independence Day, calling the move “wrong” and unnecessary.

Speaking to reporters, Pawar said such restrictions are usually accepted when imposed during religious festivals like Ashadhi Ekadashi, Mahashivratri or Mahavir Jayanti, but “if you clamp such orders on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day and Republic Day, then it is difficult.”

His remarks came after the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation announced the closure of slaughterhouses and meat outlets on August 15 for Gokul Ashtami and on August 20 for the Jain festival Paryushan Parva.

The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and the Malegaon Municipal Corporation have issued similar orders for August 15.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also hit out at the KDMC, saying the commissioner had no authority to dictate people’s food choices. “It is our decision what to eat and not to eat on Independence Day. We will definitely eat non-veg food. The commissioner should instead address the issue of potholes,” he said.

NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad also joined the protest, declaring he would eat non-vegetarian food on August 15 in defiance of the ban.